“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one” (3:10)
“But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God” (2:29)
“But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God” (2:29)
No one can stand on our own, and we all need Jesus Christ. We will either live thankfully and obtain mercy in the end, or we will be damned as hypocrites and liars - “tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that worketh evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Greek; 10 but glory and honor and peace to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek“ (Rom 2:9-10). We will honor the Son of God by love, or we will perish as the sinners that we are. It is not the law-keeper who talks a good game, but the GOSPEL keeper who lives for God’s glory that shall be saved - “For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified“ (Rom 2:13).
Heritage and earthly privileges can’t save you. Church attendance and outward religion will not help. Only true and sincere goodness, thankfulness, and recognition of God’s goodness will help you in the Day of Judgment - “who will render to every man according to his works: to them that by patience in well–doing seek for glory and honor and incorruption, eternal life“ (Rom 2:6-7). You’ll be faithful to Christ, not-guilty, and worthy of eternal life as your reward, or you will be guilty and worthy of eternal damnation for your rebellion against Love Divine (Rom 2:8-9). The choice is obvious: we must be about the Savior’s business, if we will be saved.
Salvation is free, but powerful: it is not a word-only salvation of talk, where God says stuff but won’t fulfill it. Salvation makes a man rise, take up his bed, and walk - “But that you may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins, (then says he to the sick of palsy,) Arise, and take up your bed, and go unto your house. And he arose, and departed to his house” (Matt 9:6). He isn’t merely forgiven, but he is able to live for Christ now too. He loves the Son who saved him freely, picking him, hearing his prayer, and dying so that he could be saved. It is the Son who honored God and died so that sins could be atoned and blessings earned. It is the Son who’s given us favor with God by His obedience, and to the Son, willful and un-condemned obedience is given. We live to make His name known, that sinners be saved and His fame would spread throughout the earth (Rom 1:14-15). We live thankful that we are not perishing, and we live in the experience of power divine, moving us to obedience.
The remembrance of His love not only compels us by reasonable service, but it has constraining and supernatural power, causing us to willfully grow in honoring God and man (2 Cor 5:14). We want to do good, because we’re so forgiven and free of the shame, because we have God’s blessing, and the Spirit is power inside of us. We want to, and we’re able to obey. Grace has saved us for real, and not in talk, so we’re THANKFUL and continue in well-doing by faith, in spite of sins.
This LIFE is safe, and all others are being damned eventually (Rom 2:13). God won’t take your law-keeping, unless it is perfect, but He’ll receive your GOSPEL obedience as the fruit of Christ and as marks that you’re His.
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